Marc Lefebvre is running for mayor of Parksville.
Lefebvre was first elected to city council in 2002.
He said "fiscal discipline" will be the main plank of his mayoral campaign.
"Decisions on how to spend taxpayers' dollars have to be made in the context of the biggest bang for our bucks and the relevancy to our city's ongoing sustainable development," said Lefebvre.
Former mayors Sandy Hurley and Randy Longmuir were on hand for Lefebvre's announcement in August, along with current Regional District of Nanaimo board chair and French Creek representative Joe Stanhope, who said he also is endorsing Lefebvre, who acknowledged he has a tough campaign ahead of him.
"This is not a coronation," said Lefebvre, who also had kind words for outgoing Mayor Chris Burger. "I'm very disappointed Chris has decided to step down but I understand the reasons for it." he said.
Burger returned the kind words.
"Marc is highly respected, capable and truly driven by his heart," said Burger. "Continuity is important and Marc is the most experienced member of council — I didn't want to leave the people of Parksville in a lurch. He is not a person driven by ego and that's what you want in a new leader."
Lefebvre said his campaign will "focus on the fundamentals" and "my priority is going to be water."